top of page
Arable
At the core of our business is 1350ha of arable farming which is split between two main sites (Lockerley estate and Preston farms). At Lockerley, we also farm for three neighbours on a contract farm agreement.
In the spring of 2016 there was a shift in how we wanted to farm: our core principles align us with a regenerative approach to crop production which focuses on 6 key areas -
1. Minimise Soil Disturbance either physically or chemically
2. Keeping the soil covered/ armoured
3. Living roots in the soil all year round
4. Diversity in crop rotation and plant species
5. Integration of livestock
6. Context of land, bed rock, soil type, topography, climate, capability
Achievements
46%
reduction in pesticide spend since 2015
53%
reduction in tonnes of nitrogen fertiliser used since 2015
1.1%
increase in soil organic matter
We have 11 different soil types ranging from Givendale clay to Andover chalk and many in between! We match the potential of the soil with crops we grow to end use markets so as we fulfil the quality specification required. This process is known as integrated farm management for which we at Lockerley Estate are a demonstration farm.
The rotation is wide and diverse with winter and spring planted wheat, barley, oats, peas, beans, 2 year legume fallows, legume grass leys and rotational grass. Cover and catch crops are planted so soil always has living roots in the ground and some mixtures we grow have 10 different species. Cover crops are used as living solar panels capturing sunlight and feeding the soil food web below ground and then sheep move in and graze to forage and act as mini fertiliser factories spreading natural goodness across the land! Compost, farm yard manure and other organic fertilisers are used to minimise the amount of inorganic products used from the can or bag!
Lockerley Estate takes seriously the climate and biodiversity crisis that we are in and by challenging our use of land we try to do all we can to play our part in providing safe and nutritious food, sequester carbon, mitigate floods, improve soil health, and provide clean air and water to society.
Since 2016 we have significantly reduced cultivations and now establish crops using a zero tillage seed drill. We grow crop varieties that require significantly less inputs which has seen a 46% reduction in pesticide spend and 31% reduction in tonnes of fertiliser used. We can evidence a 1.1% increase in soil organic matter which is one of our greatest achievements to date. With in field trials working with leading scientist and being an early adopter of the newest robotics in the industry, we are well placed to respond to future demands.
bottom of page